Follow the Star, A Christmas Pageant December 2015

Transcription

1 Follow the Star, A Christmas Pageant December 2015 (Text written by Rev. Laurie Bushbaum, based on a play by Laurel Benedict and Phyllis Root; original music and song lyrics by LB and PR) Narrator (Laurie) Reader Mary Joseph APS Angels Angel of the Holy One Shepherds Star Wise People Animals Lead singers Lead drummer Stage crew Emily & Hailey Zaal Joni Hahn Sarah Thurs, Karen Peterson, Mark Schuler, Rose O Connor, Kay Meyer Laurie: At this time of year, there is a story that we tell. A story about a baby, a star in the sky, gifts which are given, and miracles, many miracles. Let all the faithful come and prepare for the telling of the story CONGREGATION sings: O Come All Ye Faithful : #253 First verse CHILDREN process in as we sing and take their places in front. APS ANGELS remain in back. Laurie: Is the star ready? Star: Ready. Laurie: Are the angels ready? APS Angels & Angel of the Holy One: Ready. Laurie: Are the animals ready? ALL ANIMALS make animal noises. 1

2 Laurie: Is the wind ready? ALL CHILDREN make swooshing noise. Laurie: Are the shepherds and wise people ready? Shepherds & Wise People: Ready. Laurie: Are the people ready? CONGREGATION: Ready. Laurie: Everything is ready: the star, the angels, the animals, the shepherds and wise people, the wind, and the people. SO IT IS TIME TO TELL THE STORY * * * Laurie: Once upon a time, a long, long time ago Reader: But it could have been just yesterday Laurie: Yes, once upon a magical time, in a city called Bethlehem Reader: But it could have been in Wausau or Waupaca Laurie: A child was born and he was named Jesus. Reader: But the child could have been named Henry, or Annie, or Kira, or Alex. Laurie: [Sighs] On this special day, in this special place, a beautiful child was born and all the creatures of the earth and heavens heard something in the wind.. ALL CHILDREN make a swooshing sound like the wind for a while. Then Emily & Hailey Zall sing: There s Something in the Wind. Laurie: Yes, there was something in the wind, some magic stirring Something amazing was about to happen. You see, a woman named Mary was about to have a baby, but she and her husband Joseph had to travel to the city of Bethlehem. MARY & JOSEPH WALK TO THE STAGE. 2

3 Laurie: And while they were there, it was time for the baby to be born. But there was no room for them in any hotel or motel. The only place they could find was in a barn surrounded by animals. I want everyone to pick an animal: cat, dog, pig, horse, mouse, elephant, monkey duck anything. On the count of 3, I want to hear your animal sounds nice and LOUD ! ALL ANIMALS make animal noises. Laurie: Well, Mary and Joseph were in a barn, but they had all these wonderful and kind animals sourrounding them, so they weren t scared. Mary and Joseph also knew that angels were watching over them. You see, angels could be anywhere. They come in different shapes and sizes, and you might not always recognize one. And they bring unexpected gifts. This is a very exciting moment. Let s have a drum roll DRUMMERS GIVE US A DRUM ROLL (OR A WILD POUNDING) and & STOP WHEN THE ANGELS REACH THE STAGE. Joseph: Look Mary, it s UPS. APS ANGELS COME DOWN THE AISLE ON SCOOTERS OR SKATEBOARDS. Mary: I don t think so Joseph. It looks more like A P S to me. APS Angel #1: Angel Parcel Service. Special Delivery. APS Angel #2 (if there is one): Sign here, please. JOSEPH SIGNS CLIPBOARD. APS ANGEL #1 HANDS BABY JESUS TO MARY. Laurie: And there on a beautiful starry night. Mary delivered her child, Jesus. Mary and Joseph counted all his toes. Let s count with them. MARY & JOSEPH COUNT THE BABY S TOES ALOUD WHILE TOUCHING THEM Mary, Joseph, & entire cast/congregation: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10! Laurie: Then they wrapped him in blankets, and laid him in a manger. MARY & JOSEPH WRAP BABY JESUS IN BLANKETS & LAY HIM IN A MANGER 3

4 Laurie: And all of the creatures of the world rejoiced! EVERYONE WHOOPS IT UP: DRUMMERS DRUM; ANIMALS MAKE THEIR NOISES & JUMP UP & DOWN; MARY & JOSEPH BLOW BUBBLES. Laurie: When the party was over, the night was very quiet and still CONGREGATION sings: Silent Night : #251 LIGHTS ARE DIMMED. ANGELS (and others TBD) STAND & BLOW BUBBLES. Laurie: All through the country side, the shepherds were out in the fields, watching their flocks by night. SHEPHERDS PRETEND TO BE WATCHING OVER SHEEP. Laurie: And the Angel of the Holy One came to the shepherds. ANGEL OF THE HOLY ONE STANDS & COMES TOWARD THE SHEPHERDS. Laurie: The light of the God sparkled all around them FLASHLIGHTS OR SOME KIND OF LIGHTS FLICKER/SPARKLE ALL AROUND THE SHEPHERDS. Laurie: And they were frightened. SHEPHERDS COWER & COVER THEIR HEADS WITH THEIR ARMS. Angel of the Holy One: Fear not, shepherds, for I bring you tidings of great joy, a gift for all people. Laurie: Would all of you join in the heavenly host, repeating after me, Glory to God in the highest and on Earth Peace and Goodwill to all. Laurie: The shepherds noticed a star shining brightly in the sky, brighter than all the other stars. SHEPHERDS & ANIMALS POINT TO THE SKY 4

5 STAR COMES TO FRONT Laurie: They talked among themselves and decided it was a sign that something important had happened. SHEPHERDS PRETEND TO TALK AMONG THEMSELVES & THEN NOD Shepherd #1: What do you think? Shepherd #2: [shrugs] I don t know. It could be a planet; it could be a comet. Shepherd #1: Heck if I know. [shrugs] It s a mystery to me! Laurie: Others, too, saw the star, and decided to follow it. Laurie: Our next song is a call-and-response song. The drummers will set the beat, & then you ll all repeat after the singer. DRUMMERS SET A SIMPLE SLOW BEAT Emily & Hailey Zall sing FOLLOW THE STAR AS SINGERS BEGIN, THE STAR WALKS SLOWLY UP THE CENTER AISLE MOVING TOWARD THE BACK WITH THE WISE PEOPLE FOLLOWING & THEN AROUND THE SIDE TO THE FRONT AGAIN ONTO THE STAGE. Laurie: The wise people followed the star of the East until it came to rest over the place where the child was born. They brought treasures of gold and frankincense and myrrh, and other stuff that babies need. WISE PEOPLE OFFER GIFTS TO MARY & JOSEPH & BOW DOWN TOWARD BABY JESUS WHILE THE CONGREGATION SINGS. CONGREGATION sings: We Three Kings : #259 (verses 1 & 4) Laurie: Once upon a time, long ago Reader: But yesterday, too Laurie: A child was born. His name was Jesus... Reader: The baby s name is the name of all children and of all people who have ever been children. Laurie: And he came to teach the world of great love and great joy. Reader: In this season, let us be mindful of the gifts we are. Each of us bears many unseen treasures in our minds & hearts. 5

6 Laurie: Let us look into each other s eyes these days, with the magic of wonder and see there the Star. Yes, we are each a spark of the Divine, hopeful singers of joy to the world. CONGREGATION sings: Joy to The World : #245 (verses 1 & 2) Laurie: The story of Jesus, a baby born in a barn, but who came to be one of the greatest teachers of humanity, reminds us that gifts come from unexpected places, out of unusual circumstances. So it is for all of us. This is true in our Unitarian Universalist tradition, too. Once upon a time, there was a little Unitarian boy named James Pierpont. James loved music, but his father thought it was a waste of time and wouldn t let him play the piano. But some wise people lived next door. And they had a piano. It was at the neighbor s house that James wrote the song Jingle Bells, which has been a gift to generations. ALL CHILDREN ARE GIVEN JINGLE BELLS. LAURIE & OTHERS GET BASKETS OF JINGLE BELLS PASSED AROUND FOR THE CONGREGATION. PIANIST PLAYS IN BACKGROUND UNTIL EVERYONE IS READY. CONGREGATION sings: Jingle Bells Benediction Laurie: Go now in peace. Sing joy to the world. Take a journey of the heart with the wise ones. Sign for the package. Make room for the hope that yearns to be born in the world. Postlude 6